Site-specific Determinants of Breast Cancer Metastasis

Tumour Biology and Metastasis Team

Section: Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit

Breast cancers are prone to metastasize to the lymphatics, bone, liver, lung and brain. The METABRE consortium (12 partners from 8 countries) is investigating the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis. This includes the identification and functional analysis of genes and proteins that characterise the organ-specific metastatic phenotype, with a view to discovering new targets for therapy.

The project workplan includes gene profiling and proteomic analysis of clinical and experimental tissue samples, functional analysis of newly identified genes and proteins, mechanisms of angiogenesis, invasion and organ-cancer cell interactions. Our group is focusing on mechanisms of lymphatic and liver metastasis, comparing molecular profiles of breast cancers with different “tropisms” and investigating interactions between tumour cells and host cells from these tissues in 2D and 3D cultures.